Oscillating water sprinkler

ABSTRACT

The sprinkler manifold tube is driven in oscillation about its axis by a fluidic-mechanical system. In both embodiments described, a single fluidic bi-stable interchange controls the incoming flow. The stream, flowing alternately to one side and the other from the interchange, divides into two branches, one branch flowing to one side of a motor chamber to drive the paddle-piston therein and thus the sprinkler tube which is supplied by the other branch. In one embodiment, a mechanical valve actuated at the adjustably predetermined end of each sprinkler tube sweep switches the stream to its alternate channel system while in another embodiment this flow switching operation is accomplished by an impulse generated in the motor chamber when the paddle-piston reaches the end of its travel.

0 Un ted States Patent 1] 3,829,018 Oberto Aug. 13, 1974 1 OSCILLATING WATER SPRINKLER Primary ExaminerLloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-John J. Love [75] Inventor. Edwin L. Oberto, Libertyville, lll. Attorney, Agent, or Firm Darbo Robertson & [73] Assignee: Burgess Vibrocrafters, Inc., Vandenburgh Grayslake, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] 3 The sprinkler manifold tube is driven in oscillation v about its axis by a fluidic-mechanical system. In both embodiments described, a single fluidic bi-stable inter- [52] US. Cl. 239/242, 137/832 Change controls the incoming flow The Stream fl [51] Int. Cl B051) 3/16 ing alternately to one Side and the other from the [58] Field of Search 137/825, 826, 829, 830, tel-change divides into two branches one branch 137/832 X; 239/237-242 flowing to one side of a motor chamber to drive the paddle-piston therein and thus the sprinkler tube References Clted which is supplied by the other branch. In one em- UNlTED STATES PATENTS bodiment, a mechanical valve actuated at the adjust- 3,376,881 4/1968 Godwin 137/832 y predetermined endof each sprinkler tube sweep 3,432,102 3/1969 Turner et a! 239/242 switches the stream to its alternate channel system 3,486,517 12/1969 Gaura 137/832 whilg in another embodiment this flow switching Oberto et a1 operation is accomplished an impulse generated in the motor chamber when the paddle-piston reaches the end of its travel.

4 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PAIENIED nun! 31974 SHEET 2 0F 6 PAIENIEB am: 1 31914 PATENFEB NIB 1 3 74 SHEET S (if 6 BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A great variety of lawn sprinklers has been devised and manufactured. All are intended to distribute water as uniformly as possible over a given lawn area at the rate at which the water will soak into the ground. Some are simple sprinkler manifolds with no moving parts, some provide for a multiplicity of streams from nozzles which rotate about a vertical or a horizontal axis, and many are adjustable to limit the area to be sprinkled at any given setting. The constantly moving streams are preferable in that they spread the water for a given location of the sprinkler over a larger area for optimum absorption of the water by the soil. Since sprinklers rotating about a vertical axis supply water to a circular area while sprinklers which oscillate about a horizontal axis serve a rectangular area, the latter is generally preferred because the entire lawn can be uniformly supplied with water by successively sprinkling areas with straight common boundaries.

To achieve improved certainty and continuity of operation and uniformity of supply of water for a given setting, horizontal oscillating sprinklers have become increasingly complex with concomitantly increasing cost and mechanical failure probability.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lawn sprinkler having a minimum of moving parts and which is capable of supplying a moving stream of water in amount uniform throughout a predetermined area. A simple mechanical valve having only two positions to control the flow of only small control streams of water is employed in one embodiment of the invention, shifting from one position to the other at each end of the sweep of the sprinkler tube with instant return without significant time dwell. Only the sprinkler tube itself with the driving paddle-piston fixed thereto moves in addition to the control valve. Other action in this dynamic sprinkler takes place inthe changing directions and rates of flow of the water itself in the various channels provided for the operation of the sprinkler and the supply of water to the sprinkler tube. In each position of the valve, water is supplied at a predetermined rate to one side of the motor chamber and withdrawn from the other side.

A further object is to provide such a sprinkler which requires no mechanical control valve but employs the paddle-piston, itself, to signal the change in direction of movement of the oscillating structure. More specifically, the pressure pulse built up in the motor chamber as a consequence of the stoppage of the paddle-piston at the end of its travel in one direction is transmitted to a control orifice at the'fluidic interchange to switch the flow of water and thus the direction of movement of the paddle-piston and sprinkler tube.

The achievements and advantages of the oscillating water sprinkler of this invention will become more fully apparent as the description thereof proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the oscillating water sprinkler of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the fluidic circuit of the sprinkler of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at the vertical plane through the axis of the sprinkler tube.

FIG. 4 is a detail view in cross section taken at the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end view taken from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detail view, in cross section, taken at the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a detail view, in cross section, taken at the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the fluidic circuit of the sprinkler of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative form of the sprinkler taken at the vertical plane through the axis of the sprinkler tube.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT As seen in FIG. 1, the sprinkler comprises a base including a housing 1 having sides 2 and ends 3 mounted upon supporting legs 4. Sprinkler tube 5, which may be essentially straight, comprises middle sleeve 5a and nozzle manifold tubes 5b and 5c, the latter being provided with rows of spaced nozzles 6 which may be progressively increasingly tilted outwardly to provide a uniform sprinkling pattern throughout the width of the rectangular lawn area to be sprinkled for a particular setting of the sprinkler. The ends of the sprinkler tube are closed by plugs 7 and 8.

An inlet snout 9 equipped with a hose coupling 10 projects through the end 3 of the housing for connection of the water supply hose to the sprinkler. Lever 11, mounted for movement back and forth about its hub 12 and engagement by stops l3 and 14, is the activating lever of the sprinkler tube oscillation control valve. Stops 13 and 14 are adjustable by manual manipulation of the handle ends 15 and 16. The stop assembly is affixed to the sprinkler tube sleeve 5a and, when the predetermined end of a sweep in one direction is reached, a stop engages the end.of lever 11 and carries it to the alternate position of this valve handle to switch a fluidic control stream, as will be described in detail hereinafter, to effect reversal of the direction of rotation of the sprinkler tube for the return sweep with eventual engagement of the other stop with the valve handle to continue the oscillating movement of the sprinkler tube.

The fluidic system that controls and powers the oscillating movement of the sprinkler tube and provides for the continuous supply. of water to the sprinkler tube is established by hydraulic circuit plate 17 the configuration of which is shown in plan in FIG. 4 and in vertical section in the assembly view of FIG. 3. As is the general practice in fluidic amplifier circuits, the stream channels are formed in this plate as open grooves rectangular in cross section and closed or ported, as required, by seal plate 18. A face plate 19, which in the embodiment illustrated serves also as an end of the sprinkler housing, overlies the seal plate. The face, seal and circuit plates are securely fastened together as by screws 20.

Sleeve 5a of sprinkler tube 5 passes through aligned holes in the face, seal and circuit plates and also through the hub 21 of enclosure 22 which defines fluid motor chamber 23 wherein paddle-piston 24 is driven by water pressure in the chamber to rotate sleeve 5a to which the paddle-piston is permanently affixed to thus drive the sprinkler tube in rotary oscillation. Circumferential flanges 25, which are integral with sleeve 5a, bear axially against U-cup seals 26 which surround sleeve 5a, preventing axial movement of the sprinkler tube in the assembly.

Paddle-piston 24 is provided with squeegee seals 24a along the three sides that engage and slide by the walls of chamber 23.

Adjustable stops 13 and 14 are frictionally sandwiched between washers 27, 28 and 29, the latter being adjustably fastened to sleeve 5a by means of a set screw 30. As has already been mentioned, and as will be described in further detail below, the stops 13 and 14 may be manually adjusted to determine the extent of oscillation at each end of the sweep of the sprinkler tube.

Seal plate 18 is provided with three water inlet ports (FIG. 7); namely, main stream port 31, left control stream port 32 and right control stream port 33. Each of these ports permits the flow of water from the inlet manifold chamber 34, defined by the closure wall 35 which is a part of face plate 19. While port 31 is always open to the flow of water when the sprinkler is in operation, ports 32 and 33 are alternately opened and closed by a gate valve 36 having arms 37 and 38 and a stem 39 to which the valve lever 11 is secured. O-ring 40 seals the valve stem against leakage of water under pressure in the manifold chamber 34.

FIG. 4 shows the plan of the hydraulic circuit plate 17, the interconnected channels providing for motor and sprinkler supply streams and the fluidic interchange control stream channels. The channel pattern of the circuit plate is symmetrical about the vertical center line. The inlet end 41 of the channel system is connected with and receives water from main stream port 31 and leads upwardly to the fluidic interchange 42, dividing at the interchange into left and right side channel systems 43 and 44, respectively. Each side system divides into two branches, main sprinkler supply stream channels 43a and 44a and motor power channels 43b and 44b. Sprinkler supply channels 43a and 44a open into sprinkler tube manifold chambers 45 and 46, respectively, which communicate with openings 47 in the walls ofsprinkler tube sleeve 5a, completing connection from the hose coupling and inlet snout 9 to the sprinkler nozzles 6 through port 31. As will be seen, the water supply stream to the sprinkler tube flows alternately through the left side branch channel 43a and the right side branch channel 44a as the sprinkler tube oscillates alternately back and forth.

During operation of the sprinkler, channels 43b and 44b serve alternately to carry motor power supply and discharge streams to and from motor chamber 23.

To complete the fluidic circuit, control stream channels 48 and 49 connect ports 32 and 33, respectively, with the fluidic interchange 42. When the water supply is turned on to operate the sprinkler, the water flows through either the left side system 43 or the right side system 44, depending upon the position of gate valve 36. With the valve in the position indicated in FIG. 7, water flows through port 32 and channel 48 as indicated by arrow 50 (FIG. 4) to divert the main flow through the fluidic interchange to the right side as indicated by arrow 51. This stream divides into two branches, one stream flowing through channel 44b, as indicated by arrow 52, to port 440 which opens into motor chamber 23, the other stream flowing directly to sprinkler tube manifold chamber 46 as indicated by arrow 53. Stream 52 provides the water power to drive paddle-piston 24 and sprinkler tube 5 in rotation about the axis of the tube. The water in the chamber on the downstream side of the paddle-piston discharges through port 43c and channel 43b, as indicated by arrow 54, to merge with the water supply stream of arrow 51 at the fluidic interchange. The flow through the interchange to the right side system exerts an aspirating effect to draw water from the discharge side of the motor chamber, thus assisting in the movement of the paddle-piston.

' This flow pattern, as is represented in FIG. 4, continues until stop 14 engages valve handle 11 and moves the valve 36 to its alternate position at which port 32 is closed by valve arm 37 and port 33 is uncovered. The

left side control stream indicated by arrow is thereby stopped and flow of the alternate right side control stream, indicated by arrow 55 (FIG. 2) is initiated, providing the pulse which effects switching of flow at the fluidic interchange from that indicated by arrow 51 (FIG. 4) to that indicated by arrow 56 (FIG. 2). The flow pattern thus established is the opposite of that indicated in FIG. 4. The supply stream indicated by arrow 56 divides into two branches, one, indicated by arrow 57, flowing through port 430 into motor chamber 23 to drive the paddle-piston 24 in the direction indicated by arrow 58, the other branch stream, indicated by arrow 59, flowing to manifold chamber 45 to supply the sprinkler tube. Motor chamber discharge stream, indicated by arrow 60, is drawn into the fluidic interchange and merges with the flow stream 56.

The pattern indicated in F IG. 4 is re-established upon movement of gate valve 36 by stop 13. Back-and-forth oscillation of the sprinkler tube is thus effected.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT The alternative form of the invention wherein the action of the paddle-piston creates the control pulse at the fluidic interchange to effect the switching of the flow of supply water from one side to the other whereby the mechanical gate valve is dispensed with, is illustrated in FIGS. 8-12. The greater simplicity of this device is indicated in the perspective view of FIG. 8. The gate valve and the associated stop system are eliminated.

To the extent appropriate, the reference numerals used in connection with the description of the sprinkler of FIGS. 1-7 will be employed in the description of the alternate form of sprinkler. The circuit plate, illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 provides for flow control streams connecting the motor chamber with the fluidic interchange and the motor chamber housing is somewhat altered in form to provide for the additional connections. The fluidic circuit diagram is represented in FIG. 9.

For an understanding of the approach to the alternative form of the invention, reference is made to the diagram of the fluidic circuitry of FIG. 9. The flow pattern of the motor power and sprinkler tube supply streams is similar to that described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7. The half of the oscillation cycle wherein the stream is directed to the right side channel system to drive the paddle-piston in the direction indi cated by arrow 61 is comparable to that described with reference to FIG. 4 and the same arrow reference numerals are employed. The water supply stream entering the fluidic interchange 42 (FIG. 9) is diverted to the right, as indicated by arrow 51, and thereafter divided into two branches, one stream 52 flowing into motor chamber 23, the other stream 53 flowing to sprinkler tube manifold chamber 46. The motor chamber discharge stream 54 is drawn into the interchange and merges with stream 51.

Left side flow control channel 62 (FIG. 11, rear view of circuit plate) connects the motor chamber with the fluidic interchange A stream 63 flows from the discharging side of the motor chamber to the fluidic interchange in parallel to stream 54. Like stream 54, it merges with main stream 51; however, the location of the outlet of control channel 62 at the interchange is such that the pulse at the fluidic interchange when this control stream is first initiated serves to switch the flow through the interchange to the other side of the channel system whereas the stream 54 is merely drawn into the main stream 51 at the outlet of the interchange. Thus, when the paddle-piston 24 has traversed the entire width of the motor chamber and is suddenly stopped by the wall thereof, a pressure pulse is created in the chamber due to the momentum of flow stream 52 and this pulse is transmitted through right side flow control channel 64 to the fluidic interchange to effect the switching of the flow stream from the right side channel system to the left side channel system, thus initiating the second half of the oscillation cycle.

Channel 62, already referred to with reference to FIG. 9 as the left side flow control channel, is formed in the back side of the circuit plate 17a as shown in the rear view of FIG. 11 which is taken at the line 11-11 of FIG. 10. It connects ports 62a and 62!) which open, respectively, into motor chamber 23 and the fluidic interchange control channel 62c which is in the front face of the circuit plate (FIG. 12). Similarly, channel 64 in the back side of the circuit plate connects ports 64a and 6412, the latter opening into the interchange control channel 64c. Channels 62 and 64 are covered by a sealing flange extension 22a of motor chamber enclosure 22, and the front of the hydraulic circuit plate 17a is covered by sealing plate 3a which, in this embodiment, also serves as the end of the sprinkler.

I claim:

1. In an oscillating water sprinkler having a base with a horizontal sprinkler tube mounted therein for oscillating motion about its axis, a water supply inlet, a fluid motor comprising a chamber having a paddle-piston arranged therein drivingly secured to the sprinkler tube, and means for providing and controlling the flow of water to supply the sprinkler tube and the fluid m0- tor; the improvement wherein said means comprises a channel system connecting the water supply inlet with the water sprinkler tube; a bistable fluidic interchange in said system connected to receive all of the water from the supply inlet and deliver the water alternatively to a left side channel system or a right side channel system; each said side system having two branch channels namely, a sprinkler supply channel and a motor power channel, the respective motor power channels being connected to the motor chamber on opposite sides of the paddle-piston; two control stream channels respectively operatively connected to opposite sides of said fluidic interchange; and means for impressing flow control pulses alternatively to said control stream channels to direct the flow of water alternatively to said right side and left side channel systems to drive the paddlepiston back and forth and thus the sprinkler tube in oscillation.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for impressing flow control pulses to the fluidic interchange control stream channels comprises two alternate inlet ports connecting the water supply inlet with the respective control stream channels, a mechanical valve arranged to switch the flow of water through one or the other of said two ports, and means for manipulating said valve in response to the angular position of the sprinkler tube.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for impressing flow control pulses to the fluidic interchange control stream channels comprises control stream channel extensions respectively connecting said fluidic interchange control stream channels to the fluid motor chamber on opposite sides of the paddle-piston, the right side control channel extension connecting with the motor chamber on the same side of the paddlepiston as the right side motor power channel and left side control channel extension connecting with the motor chamber on the same side of the paddle-piston as the left side motor power channel.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein the channel system is defined by an hydraulic circuit plate and front and rear sealing plate means, said circuit plate having channels in the front side thereof defining all of the channel system except the control stream channel extensions, the rear side of said circuit plate having said control stream channel extensions therein, said circuit plate having openings therethrough connecting the respective channel extensions with the respective fluidic interchange control stream channels. 

1. In an oscillating water sprinkler having a base with a horizontal sprinkler tube mounted therein for oscillating motion about its axis, a water supply inlet, a fluid motor comprising a chamber having a paddle-piston arranged therein drivingly secured to the sprinkler tube, and means for providing and controlling the flow of water to supply the sprinkler tube and the fluid motor; the improvement wherein said means comprises a channel system connecting the water supply inlet with the water sprinkler tube; a bistable fluidic interchange in said system connected to receive all of the water from the supply inlet and deliver the water alternatively to a left side channel system or a right side channel system; each said side system having two branch channels namely, a sprinkler supply channel and a motor power channel, the respective motor power channels being connected to the motor chamber on opposite sides of the paddle-piston; two control stream channels respectively operatively connected to opposite sides of said fluidic interchange; and means for impressing flow control pulses alternatively to said control stream channels to direct the flow of water alternatively to said right side and left side channel systems to drive the paddle-piston back and forth and thus the sprinkler tube in oscillation.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for impressing flow control pulses to the fluidic interchange control stream channels comprises two alternate inlet ports connecting the water supply inlet with the respective control stream channels, a mechanical valve arranged to switch the flow of water through one or the other of said two ports, and means for manipulating said valve in response to the angular position of the sprinkler tube.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for impressing flow control pulses to the fluidic interchange control stream channels comprises control stream channel extensions respectively connecting said fluidic interchange control stream channels to the fluid motor chamber on opposite sides of the paddle-piston, the right side control channel extension connecting with the motor chamber on the same side of the paddle-piston as the right side motor power channel and left side control channel extension connecting with the motor chamber on the same side of the paddle-piston as the left side motor power channel.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein the channel system is defined by an hydraulic circuit plate and front and rear sealing plate means, said circuit plate having channels in the front side tHereof defining all of the channel system except the control stream channel extensions, the rear side of said circuit plate having said control stream channel extensions therein, said circuit plate having openings therethrough connecting the respective channel extensions with the respective fluidic interchange control stream channels. 